Tiny Solar-Powered Sensor System (Photo by: Daeyeon Kim)
The next big thing in energy could be tiny!
Researchers at the University of Michigan recently unveiled a 9-cubic millimeter solar powered sensor system that can harvest energy from surroundings and operate virtually perpetually.
Nearly 1000 times smaller than existing commercial counterparts on the market, the tiny solar powered sensor system is dwarfed by a U.S. penny (shown above). The entire system – solar cells, processor and battery- are held in a frame that measures only 2.5 x 3.5 x 1 millimeters.
The UM solar system offers great promise in the field of nanotechnology. Often, we think about the need for great amounts of solar energy coming from vast fields of panels. Yet, the demand for solar micro applications should not be ignored.
The tiny solar-powered sensor system could be used for a variety of monitoring needs. Potential medical applications could enable doctors to monitor pressure changes in the eyes and brain with a less-invasive method. Within the body, the sensor could even draw on kinetic or thermal energy, rather than light!
Exposure to any source of light, whether natural sunlight or indoor bulbs, will charge the tiny solar cells. And, the system uses the lowest powered commercial-class microcontroller, which requires about 2,000 times less power when in sleep mode than existing alternatives. The transition from sleep to active mode is almost instantaneous because so little energy is required for operation at any level. In fact, the sensor system primarily remains in sleep mode, “awaking” every few minutes to take measurements of conditions.
The total average power consumption is less than one nanowatt. Want to talk tiny? A nanowatt is one-billionth of a watt.
Wondering about the future of this tiny powerhouse? According to the University of Michigan’s press release:
The inventors are working to commercialize the technology through a company led by Scott Hanson, a research fellow in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
The paper is entitled “Millimeter-Scale Nearly Perpetual Sensor System with Stacked Battery and Solar Cells.”
This research is funded by the National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Focus Center Research Program and ARM.
Tags: nanotechnology, solar cells, solar powered sensor system, solar system, solar technology, tiny solar cells, university michigan solar
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